Means for producing sound-vibrations in water.



No. 773,580. PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904. J. B. MILLET & A. J. MUNDY,

MEANS FOR PRODUCING SOUND VIBRATIONS IN WATER.

APPLlOATION FILED OGT, 26, 1903.

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Suva/when No. 773,580. PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

J. B. MILLET & A. J. MUNDY. MEANS FOR. PRODUCING SOUND VIBRATIONS IN WATER.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 26, 1903.

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Unirnn STATES Patented November 1, 1904.

PATENT Orrice.

JOSIAH B. MILLET AND ARTHUR J. MUNDY, OF BOSTON, MASSA- OHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO SUBMARI NE SIGNAL COMPANY, OF IVATERVILLE, MAINE, AND BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COB- PORATION OF MAINE.

MEANS FOR PRODUCING SOUN D-VIBRATIONS IN WATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,580, dated November 1, 1904.

Application filed October 26, 1903- T0 (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J OSIAH B. MILLET and ARTHUR J. MUNDY, citizens of the United States, residing in Boston, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Means for Producing Sound-Vibrations in Water; and we do hereby declare the following,when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, to be such afull, clear, and exact description of our invention as will enable others skilled in the art to which it relates to make and use the same.

It has been heretofore discovered that to secure the best results, and indeed to secure any practical results at all over great distances, a submerged sounding device should have its vibrating body or diaphragm in direct contact with the water. This is in order that the sound-waves may be originally produced in the medium by which they are to be transmitted and no losses of energy by reflection, 860., may be incurred by the passage of the sound-waves from one medium air, for instance into the transmitting medium, water. TV here asignaling device of this sort is to be stationary, the inventor or mechanic is not as a rule restricted as to the size of the device or to the space it may occupy. He may also provide special means for protecting his apparatus from destruction or injury by floating objects. It is, however, specially desirous that vessels and othermovingobjects be equipped with efficient signaling means, and devices entirely operative and practical for stationary purposes become useless when the attempt is made to attach them to or suspend them from a moving vessel. In the first place, their connections with the vessel are likely to become torn away or seriously injured by contact with passing objects, or if not mechanically affected by such contact at least suffer interruption and confusion in their delivery of signals. Again, the presence of the sounding device at a proper point Serial No. 178,503. (No model.)

on the outside of the vessel may proveasource of inconvenience and annoyance to the handling of the ship, and in instances where the device is merely suspended by cord or similar attachment especial means must be provided for keeping it submerged and in proper position when the vessel is in motion. On the other hand, if the sounding device be on shipboard, even though below the water-line, much of its energy and effectiveness is ordinarily lost in the passage of the sound-waves from the medium of their inception into the water without.

The principal object of our present invention is a special mounting and location of a submarine sounding device on shipboard whereby the sound-waves may originate in water by reason of the device being in contact therewith and yet the device be entirely free of all the inconveniences of a location in the water without the vessel.

Another object of our invention is the location on shipboard of one or more efficient sound-producing devices whereby special indication of courses and directions may be provided. 1

Yet another object of our invention is a means for reinforcing and reflecting or concentrating the sound-waves emanating from the sounder to points without the ship.

It will be seen from the above that the invention is particularly applicable for communication between a submerged submarine vessel and a station on shore or on board another ship or between two such submerged vessels.

Other objects of our invention will presently appear upon a reading of the specification 111 connection with the drawings, in

whicl Figure 1 is a sectional elevationof our means for mounting the sounding device. Fig. 2 is a plan, partially in broken section, of the means shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a plan showing our manner of mounting two or more sounders for more elaborate signaling. Fig. at is a sectional elevation of one of the mountings of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, S S indicate a section of a ship in the sea or otherbod y of water L. A tank T, which may be the forward or other ballast-tank or tank of special construction, is shown in this instance at the bow of the vessel. This tank is shown as partially filled with water and in the water the sounding device A is mounted. The tank may be en tirely filled with water; but in any event the amount of water should be sufficient to cover the sounder. Although in the drawings we have shown the sounding device as a bell B and although we prefer in many instances to use a bell, yet it is obvious that the particular form or kind of sounder is immaterial to the present invention. The bell is shown as rigidly mounted upon the upper wall of the tank, and its pivotally-mounted hammer H is operated by a reciprocating rod R from above. As it is immaterial what kind of sounder be used, so it is even more of no particular consequence in what way the bell be mounted, so far at least as the principal object of the present invention is concerned.

Coming now to our means for concentrating and reflecting sound, there is shown at Q a curved plate attached at one end to the bottom of the rearof the tank and at the other end to the top thereof at a point forward of this sounding device. This plate is designed and positioned to throw the sound-waves forward and down into the water. By thus throwing the sounds ahead of the vessel its position and course are indicated and danger of collision lessened. The space Y between the plate Q and the walls of the tank may be filled with sawdust or other sound-absorbing and non-conducting medium. Although we prefer to equip our tanks with the reflector and although the reflector constitutes in itself an invention of some importance, it is apparent that we may omit the same without destroying the usefulness of the principal feature of our present invention. e may even combine the tank and reflector features by building the tank so that the shape and design of certain portions of it cause it to perform the functions of the reflector.

3 and 4 illustrate a modification of the apparatus adapted especially for use on ships, whereby not only may warning-signals of the approach of a vessel be given, but the direction in which the vessel is moving may be readily determined by the party receiving the signals. In these figures, T and T represent two tanks, located, respectively, on the port and starboard sides of the ship S and containing bells B and B immersed in the water IV, which fills or partially fills the tanks. In the operation of the device as shown in these figures two bells may be struck alternately with different numbers of strokesas, for instance, two strokes of the port bell followed by three strokes of the starboard bell. If the vessel has her port side toward the receiving-station, the twostroke signal not being shadowed by the body of the ship will sound louder than the starboard signal. If the vessel is approaching the receiving-station dead ahead, both signals would be equally loud, and if the starboard side is toward the receiving-station the starboard signal will appear louder. By these means another vessel receiving a signal warning it of the approach of the ship S would be able to direct its course so as to avoid a col lision. Instead of striking numbers on the port and starboard sides the two bells might be of different pitch or tone, or any suitable means may be used to distinguish the sounds made by the two sounding devices.

The effect of locating the sounding device in water within the structure is practically the same as locating it directly in the sea outside. The water in the tank being in direct contact with the sounder receives the full force and effect of its vibrations. The rela tively thin walls of the ship being in contact with the sea on one side and with the tankwater on the other deliver the vibrations to the sea with little or no loss, as has been determined by continual experimentation. By having the tank-water fresh the corrosive and other effects of the sea-water upon the apparatus are obviated.

WVhereas we have shown and described our water-tanks as located on shipboard, We may choose to locate them in any other structure, and instead. of water another liquid, as oil or some other non-freezing compound, may be used in the tanks.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an apparatus for producing sound-Vibrations in water, by which they are transmitted, the combination of a ship, buoy or other floating structure in contact with the body of Water through which the signals are to be transmitted, a tank or vessel of liquid inside the said ship or structure, and a soundproducing device immersed in the said internal tank or vessel of liquid, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In submarine signaling means, a ship or other structure the Wall of which is in contact with the water in which the sound-waves are to be transmitted, a body of liquid within said structure in contact with said wall, soundproducing means located in said. second body of liquid.

3. In an apparatus for producing sound-vibrations in water by which they are transmitted, a combination of a ship, buoy, or other floating structure in contact with the body of mitted, means contained within said tank whereby signals may be transmitted and reflecting means of substantially the kind described located upon the opposite side of said tank from that through which said soundwaves are to emanate, whereby sound-waves proceeding from said signaling devices may be concentrated, as set forth.

JOSIAH B. MILLET. ARTHUR MUNDY.

Witnesses:

J. E. R. HAYES, J. M. DoLAN. 

